New Haven's Elm City Express Advance To National Soccer Championship

The team plays in the National Premier Soccer League national championship at home this Saturday against a team from Texas.

Frankie Graziano
/ WNPR

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New Haven’s professional soccer team, the Elm City Express, has made it to its league’s championship game in its inaugural year, after beating a team from Oakland on Saturday.

It was a 2-0 result against California’s CD Aguiluchos USA. One of the reasons was the play of Shaq Saunchez, a recent graduate of Fairfield’s Sacred Heart University. Off of a counter-attack in the 48th minute, with the team up 1-0, it only took one touch for Saunchez to fire the ball toward the far left post and provide his team with insurance.

Now, his team is going to the finals. And they’ll play at home in New Haven.

“You can’t describe it,” Saunchez said. “It’s one of those experiences that only happens once in a blue moon.”

Saunchez said the win was good for the team, and good for New Haven.

“It’s important because it just brings the community together,” Saunchez said. “People from all walks of life now are just entertained by soccer. And the fact it’s in their own backyard makes it even better for them.”